I’m part of a few different online groups made up of assorted church-leader-types, and every year around this time, the topic of Mother’s Day comes up. What do we do, we who use our voices in pulpits and lecterns? Especially in Southern contexts like mine, it’s pretty hard to just ignore it at Sunday worship. On the other hand, it’s not a religious holiday, and focusing on it can cause people a lot of pain.

Full disclosure: personally, I am lucky to have a good relationship with a mom who is still around. I don’t want kids right now, so not having them is not a source of grief for me.

The examen is a practice that invites us to notice God’s presence in our day. There are a lot of ways to ask the questions — where we felt most and least fulfilled, where we felt it easiest and hardest to give love, where we felt closest to and furthest from God…

I originally drew this mini journal to include in the Lenten Prayer to Go boxes I made for UKirk Ole Miss. But there aren’t specific dates on the pages, so it could be useful anytime.